subrack

The basic premise is that I find that there is a missing middle ground between a bunch of loose benchtop items like Saleae-sized kit and the rack-sized equipment … or even other card formats for benchtop units. (as an aside I feel like there are a lot of product categories that have a missing low-mid-range)

For basic logic analyzing, DAC/ADC testing, and in general hardware-in-the-loop testing (including basic comms like RS485) I find myself dragging out the same stuff to cobble together. RS422 dongles, logic analyzers, DACs, 4-20mA simulators, etc. Or even for things already on the bench, then there are cables going to five different things. The small pocket-sized pieces of kit are cool until your test needs five of them at once, then it’s clutter.

So, my thinking is that a small card-based form-factor that is essentially the same size as the rest of your beloved bench-top kit is in order. There are a couple versions of this floating around but they tend to lean towards full-height cards. They are both bigger than I’d prefer (unnecessarily so IMO) and brings the cost for any custom cards up more than necessary. Or, there is some other legacy attribute to the standards that doesn’t feel necessary/desirable.

Project Genesis: March 2021

Older Posts

Subrack With LCD Panel

Continuing to test fit metal panels including an LCD and front interface panel.
Saturday November 13, 2021 read more
Subrack Power Card PCB

First article for a power card for the test equipment subrack has arrived.
Monday October 25, 2021 read more
Subrack, Now In Metal

First pass fit testing of metal panels with rails on the test equipment subrack.
Friday October 22, 2021 read more
Mocking Up Subrack Cards

Mocking up some cards for the test equipment subrack with print-outs.
Tuesday September 28, 2021 read more
Cut Some Metal for The Subrack

Got some sheet metal cut for the test equipment subrack.
Sunday August 08, 2021 read more
Buttons, Very Important

Bought a few types of buttons to check sizing, shape, for use with the test equipment subrack.
Thursday April 08, 2021 read more
How About a Few Panel Sizes?

Experimenting with a few different front-panel sizes for the test equipment subrack.
Thursday April 01, 2021 read more
Testing Some COTS Rack Rails

Testing a few COTS rails for the test equipment subrack.
Wednesday March 31, 2021 read more
An Idea for a Test Equipment "Subrack"

I'm brewing up a modular test equipment form factor.
Tuesday March 30, 2021 read more